15 Natural Antibiotic Alternatives 1. Garlic- a broad-spectrum antibiotic, meaning it’s effective against a wide range of disease-causing bacteria… Garlic shows promise against two of the three most dangerous bacterial infections (christened nightmare superbugs by the CDC): Antibiotic resistant gonorrhea and MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly found in hospitals where there has the potential to weaken those whose immune systems are already compromised. It can help prevent food poisoning by killing E. coli and salmonella. And it is also shown to boost immunity, helping fight off bacterial infections. There are many reasons we call garlic “miraculous.” 2. Goldenseal - A common winter infection—sinus infections—are treatable with goldenseal. Goldenseal contains “berberine,” which has been shown to inhibit the adherence of bacteria to human cells, so they cannot infect the cells. It is also thought to be effective in treating strep throat, diarrhea, gum disease, and pneumonia. 3. Licorice- licorice root contains “glycyrrhizic acid,” which has been shown to treat and soothe respiratory problems like bronchitis, usually in the form of cough drops and syrup, and also arthritis. 4. Echinacea - The purple coneflower is pretty to grow in your garden and can be made into a tea, extract, juice, powder, or cream for treating a number of infections. There have been more than 300 scientific investigations on the immune-enhancing effects of Echinacea—one of the most popular herbs in the treatment of the common cold. Paired with goldenseal, Echinacea helps knock out strep throat. It has also been used to treat a range of problems from skin wounds to dizziness. 5. Aloe Vera- Perhaps you’ve already experienced the skin-soothing wonder of aloe vera gel. But beyond its ability to soothe damaged skin, aloe vera has been shown effective in the treatment of gum disease, hypertension, angioedema (rapid swelling from trauma or allergies), asthma, Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis, diabetes, peptic ulcer, and other skin issues, such as psoriasis, Seborrheic Dermatitis, plaques from the shingles virus, and cuts and scrapes. It’s ability to “inhibit the production of reactive oxygen metabolites and inflammatory mediators by human colon epithelial cells” makes it effective in treating the symptoms of Crohn’s Disease—a particularly uncomfortable and often untreatable disease. It can also help relieve asthma symptoms in sufferers who are not dependent on corticosteroids.